ZHU Yingying

Shandong University, China
Exchange to the University of Adelaide, Australia

My exchange to the University of Adelaide during 2010 impressed me a lot. It gave me a valuable learning experience and also broadened my horizons. I am very grateful to the Cheung Kong Group and the Australia Government for this memorable experience.

My first impression of Australia was its azure sky and green environment. I was really excited by its fantastic weather and environment when I arrived in the country. However, what impressed me the most was its social and cultural atmosphere. People in Adelaide are so warm and friendly. Their kindness was the most important factor that helped me get over the feelings of homesickness and loneliness when I first arrived. For instance, when I asked an old lady for directions to the university, not only did she patiently show me the location on the map, she also introduced me to the history of the city. Little acts of kindness like this occurred frequently, and stopped me from panicking about being in a strange new country.

I was fascinated by Australia’s attractive culture as I became more and more familiar with Adelaide. As the Chinese saying goes, “It’s better to travel ten thousand miles than read ten thousand books”. I travelled to Cairns, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland during the exchange period. I was amazed by the beautiful natural scenery of the Great Barrier Reef. The hot air balloon experience that I had was also unforgettable. Besides, University of Adelaide is a diverse university where I met students from countries all around the world. There were a lot of opportunities for me to learn and experience the Australian culture, and I am glad that I developed good friendships with the locals. I am sure that my experience in Australia will have a very profound influence on my life in the future.

Although I had a great time enjoying myself in Australia, I also encountered challenges far beyond my expectations. However, it was these challenges that helped me make the greatest progress. It is really tough for international students to study in a foreign country, but there are many people out there who are willing to help you with your difficulties. We discussed our problems with our tutors and directed our questions to the International Student Centre. With their help, I found the learning style there very stimulating. While in Adelaide, I spent a lot of time reading in the library, discussing with my classmates during seminars to work on group reports, and reviewing my lectures over and over again on the Internet. Frankly speaking, studying in Adelaide was a very precious life experience.

Applying for exchange is definitely a wise decision. Australia is really an ideal place for going on exchange. What I have learned and gained from this ten-month experience was too much to be summed up in a passage. Everyday had been exciting, fruitful and challenging. My time there had greatly enriched my knowledge, enlarged my perspective and developed my ability in many aspects. It had even changed my way of thinking, and provided me with a broader perspective that will benefit me all my life.

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